Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #106840 in Books
• Published on: 2006-10-26
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 304 pages

Synopsis
"The Rough Guide to British Cult Comedy" is the ultimate guide to live and television comedy in Britain from the 1980s to the present day. From Ben Elton to Alan Carr, this book profiles fifty of the most influential cult comedy icons and discovers how they became household names. Throughout the book, there are tips from comedians and industry insiders, with a mix of amusing anecdotes and practical suggestions for writing and performing your own live show and sitcom. The guide reviews the top cult comedy on TV and in the movies, with a detailed focus on what inspired them and what they in turn inspired. As well as a special US chapter, the book (which has won praise from Chortle, the comedy website and from The Stage among others) comes complete with a round up of the best dvds, books and comic websites available.

About the Author
Julian Hall is the comedy critic for The Independent newspaper and has also written about comedy for The Guardian, The Independent on Sunday, Independent Magazines, The Bristol Evening Post, What's On and The List. Previous to writing as a comedy critic, Hall edited the Pandora column of The Independent and worked as a political assistant to a number of high profile MPs. The author has a blog about his book where further information and review quotes can be obtained.

Customer Reviews

Brilliant!
An incisive and well researched guide, suitable for both the hardened expert and the complete novice. Everything you could ever possibly want to know about british comedy is covered. And lots more you never knew you wanted to know. Buy it now or regret it!

Ooh! you are (far from) awful!
A truly informative guide; what Mr Hall doesn't know about British cult comedy could be written on a very small postage stamp. Very authorititative and written in a clear, honest style, the book does well not to fall into the trap of parodying its own subject matter. And like the best of books, I found myself chortling to myself at some of the passages.

One small criticism - why oh why is there no entry for Rod Hull and Emu, quite possibly the best post-modern bird-man routine the world has ever known? That shocking omission has cost Mr Hall a star.

Laughing matters
This is a template for everything a good guide should be. It is an excellent starting point for comedy virgins at the same time as being a great reference source for the initiated. The Rough Guide to British Cult Comedy is an invaluable aid for anyone who is thinking of venturing into, regularly attends or lives in a UK comedy club. It's a pretty comprehensive guide to the very best of television comedy too